Western University
Don Wright Faculty of Music
Fundamentals of Music Theory M1122a
Tuesdays, 7pm-10pm, TC 201
Fall 2014
Instructor: Dr. Lindsay Murrell
Office Hours: Tuesday 6:00-7:00
Additional time is always available by appointment
Email: lmurrel@uwo.ca
Website: http://owl.uwo.ca
Overview
This course serves as a concise introduction to the elementary elements of music theory. It aims
to develop both practical and intellectual fluency with musical skills and concepts. Through
weekly assignments, in-class exercises, and group presentations, you will develop the ability to
hear basic musical processes and structures, along with acquiring the terminology necessary to
describe and analyze fundamental aspects of both art and popular music. We will be looking at
works and concepts from a broad range of styles, including Western art music from the medieval
period through to the twentieth century, popular music repertoire, and music of the non-western
world. Course topics include: pitch, rhythm and meter, major and minor scales, intervals, triads
and seventh chords, and a preliminary look at the fundamentals of harmony.
Intended Audience
Music 1122a is intended for individuals with little to no previous musical training, who wish
to acquire the basic vocabulary utilized to describe and analyze music, and in turn, apply this
knowledge to a variety of repertoire. This course is not available for credit for bachelor of music
students. If you have previous musical training, please speak with the instructor as soon as
possible to evaluate the appropriateness of this course.
Assignments/Quizzes
Weekly assignments are due one week from the date they are given. Requests for extensions will
not be made after the due date. For most assignments, there will be a dictation portion that will
be conducted at the beginning of class on the day the assignment is due. After the dictation
portion is complete, the assignment will be handed in (assignments will not be accepted at the
end of class). There will be two quizzes scheduled during the term. Always complete your
assignments/quizzes in pencil (not pen!!!).
Final Project
Throughout the course I will provide mini presentations focused upon repertoire from various
eras (with a focus on 20th-century composers and compositions). I will provide a brief biography
of the composer and then as a group we will discuss key components of the work that we are
able to hear and see from the score. Although we have limited terminology at our disposal
(which will grow as the course progresses), it is amazing what we will be able to pick out,
dissect, and highlight in the work. The final project will be a written version similar in style and
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content of these mini presentations. You will be responsible for choosing a work (from any
era/genre) and developing a paper of approximately four to five pages which introduces the
composer/artist and provides preliminary analytical observations about the work (employing
terms and concepts we have acquired throughout the course). More information will be provided
about the project as the course progresses.
Attendance and Missed work
As most assignments include a dictation portion that will take place at the beginning of the class
that the assignment is due, attendance is highly encouraged! If you miss the dictation portion,
without the instructor’s approval, you will automatically forfeit these marks. Please email me if
you are ill and are unable to hand in your assignment/attend the dictation portion of the
assignment. In certain situations, extensions may be granted made. However, regardless of the
circumstances, I cannot accept assignments or reschedule quizzes after they have been graded
and the answer keys been made available to other students.
Required Material
There are two ways to obtain the required textbook for this course through buying either the
print version or the electronic version.
Print version:
Straus, Joseph N. 2012. Elements of Music, 3rd ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
(I have seen it on amazon for approximately $114.00)
OR
Electronic version:
http://www.pearsonhighered.com/educator/product/MySearchLab-with-Pearson-eText-InstantAccess-for-Elements-of-Music-3E/9780205161799.page
(you will need to purchase an access code only- price: $55.00 USD)
**with the electronic version, you will also need to download a free version of FinaleNotepad at:
http://www.finalemusic.com/products/finale-notepad/resources/
Staff Paper (available from most stationary stores, music stores, or download and print from the
course Owl site).
**please bring staff paper to every class, as we will be completing exercises and taking
dictation weekly.
OWL
Assignments will be made available via Owl every Wednesday. Dates for assignments and
quizzes are listed on the 1122a timetable that accompanies this course syllabus.
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Evaluation
The course will be weighted as follows:
7 weekly assignments at 3% each
Analysis assignment
2 quizzes (11.5% each)
Final Project
Registrar Scheduled Final Exam
21%
11%
23%
15%
30%
**50% is required in the final exam to pass the course
Notes:
1. Assignments must be handed in on time. Students may be penalized for handing in late
assignments. Assignments that are handed in after they have already been marked and
returned to the class will not be accepted.
2. Students are responsible for making up any missed classes or assignments as soon as
possible. Absence from the midterm test and/or final exam will only be excused provided
a satisfactory medical certificate, or the equivalent for non-medical or compassionate
grounds, is submitted to the Faculty of Music Academic Counseling Office (TC210).
Students are directed to read the Senate policy on accommodation for medical illness at
http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/handbook/appeals/accommodation_medical.pdf as well as
the attendance policy at http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/handbook/exam/attendance.pdf.
3. Students may be excused to observe a religious holy day of his/her faith without penalty
provided they notify the instructor in advance. Students will be held responsible for
material covered in their absence and each student shall be permitted a reasonable
amount of time to make up missed work.
4. Because the textbook could be purchased in electronic format, electronic devices are
allowed in the classroom, within reason. If the professor obverses you simply using your
device for social purposes, ie. Facebook, your electronic privileges may be revoked and
you will be required to print off the material necessary for future classes.
5. Scholastic offenses are taken seriously and students are directed to read the appropriate
policy, specifically, the definition of what constitutes a Scholastic Offence, as found at
www.uwo.ca/univsec/handbook/appeals/scholoff.pdf.
6. Do not make any travel plans for within the final exam period: December 6–17, 2014.
7. Students that are in emotional/mental distress should refer to MentalHealth@Western
http://www.uwo.ca/uwocom/mentalhealth/ for a complete list of options about how to
obtain help.
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Western University, Don Wright Faculty of Music
Fundamentals of Music Theory (M1122a): Course Timetable, Fall 2014
Week
1
Date
9 Sept
2
16 Sept
3
23 Sept
4
30 Sept
5
7 Oct
6
14 Oct
7
21 Oct
8
28 Oct
9
2 Nov
10
11
11 Nov
18 Nov
12
13
25 Nov
2 Dec
Concepts
Staff, keyboard, treble clef
Quarter, half, and whole notes
Bass clef, great staff, alto & tenor clef, double
flats & sharps
Eighth notes and sixteenth notes, dots and ties
Major scales, major keys
Rests, duple and triple meter
Major key signatures, minor scales, minor keys
Compound meter and syncopation
Minor Key signatures
Harmonic & Melodic minor
Modes and pentatonic scales
Return to rests
Intervals (simple and compound), inversion
Intervals in a major and minor key
QUIZ ONE (material up to/including week 5)
Triads
Triads in inversion
Triads in major keys
Triads in minor keys
Seventh chords
Triads Supplementary lesson
Tonic and dominant
Expanding I and V, Approaching V
QUIZ TWO (material from weeks 6-9)
Approaching V cont.
Phrases and Cadences
Harmony supplementary lesson and part-writing
Miscellaneous and Review
Straus
Chapter 1, lessons 1-3 (pp.1-22)
Chapter 2, lesson 6 (pp. 49-58)
Chapter 1, lessons 4-supp. (pp. 23-48)
Chapter 2, lessons 7-8 (pp. 59-77)
Chapter 3, lessons 14-15 (pp. 121-153)
Chapter 2, lessons 9-11 (pp. 79-104)
Chapter 3, lessons 16-18 (pp.155-202)
Chapter 2, lessons 12-supp. (pp.105-20)
Chapter 3, lessons 19-supp. (203-230)
Chapter 4, lessons 21-26 (pp. 231-298)
Chapter 5, lessons 27-28 (pp. 299-318)
Chapter 5, lessons 29-31 (pp.319-345)
Chapter 5, supp. (pp. 347-354)
Chapter 6, lesson 32 (pp. 355-369)
Chapter 6, lessons 33-34 (pp. 371-397)
Chapter 6, lessons 34-35 (pp. 387-410)
Chapter 6, supp. (pp. 411-412)
**Please note, page numbers are taken from the print version. The electronic version may vary by a page or two, but
lessons numbers remain consistent.
Assignment Due Dates
Important Dates
Assignment One
Assignment Two
Assignment Three
Assignment Four
Assignment Five
Assignment Six
Assignment Seven
Assignment Eight
Quiz One
Oct. 21
Quiz Two
Nov. 18
Final Project Dec. 2
Sept. 16
Sept. 23
Sept. 30
Oct. 7
Oct. 21
Oct. 28
Nov. 2
Nov. 25
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